Help for Homeschooling High Schoolers!

In a few short months I will be the proud mother of a high school student! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? Have we really been homeschooling for over 8 years now?! Before I know it my babies will be gone.

I've never been the mother of a high schooler before, let alone be the primary educator of one and I have to be honest. The thought of only having four more years to prepare my daughter for what lies beyond her high school years is a bit daunting. I have so many questions, yet no one I know personally that I can turn to! Most of the homeschool families I know have enrolled their students into public school when they reach high school age, so where do I turn?

The timing couldn't have been more perfect when I was asked to review The Old Schoolhouse's ebook, Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!

The very first thing that affirmed to me that this was a quality writing was that the forward was written by Amanda Bennett. I have used several of Mrs. Bennett's products over the years and I highly respect anything she has to say.

As I began reading the stories of family after family who have successfully homeschooled their children through their high school years I realized that everything I have ever thought, feared, questioned, and believed about educating my children through their teen years has all been very normal and that I'm most definitely not alone as I begin this new journey of our lives. There are many families out there who had the same questions, the same fears, the same self-doubts as I now face. But also, on the flip side of that, I discovered that the same excitements and opportunities I believe are waiting for our children as they continue their education at home as they become high-schoolers have been realized by many of the families who have shared their stories in this e-book by The Old Schoolhouse!

What a joy and a relief it was for me to read that these families faced hard times as well as joys with their high schoolers but in the end the Lord always made a way to fulfill His plans for each of their children. Reading these stories has given me the confidence to move forward and know that, if I'll continue to put my trust in Him, that He will continue to lead and guide us in the direction He wants each of our children to go.

Worried about what they *don't* know? It's in there.

Worried about if you can really prepare them for college? It's in there.

Worried you won't be able to teach them chemistry and calculus? It's in there.

Worried about if you're going to scar them for the rest of their lives by keeping them home for high school? It's in there.

Worried whether they'll get into college or be able to get a good job? It's in there.

One child, many children, children with learning struggles, family members with health issues, financial strains, house fire, other major life hurdles, socialization concerns, curriculum... it's ALL in there!

No matter what fears or concerns you may have about keeping your children home throughout their high school years you will find a story that addresses each of those fears and reassures you that it really will be ok! But along with that you will also find stories that confirm to you that all those reasons you want to homeschool your high schooler really are great reasons to keep them home! Strong family relationships, opportunity to study those areas most interesting to them, having the time to pursue their passions, training their hearts towards the things of the Lord, apprentice and entreprenuer opportunities... you'll find examples of all of these in Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler! There's even 5 pages of helpful resources (books, curriculum, websites, and more) to help you even more!

For a mere $12.45 you get the opportunity to sit down with over a dozen homeschool families and hear their stories and be encouraged that you really CAN homeschool your high schooler! What an invaluable investment!

It's Heartschooling Day!

In honor of Missey Gray, a precious homeschooling momma whose heart was passionate for her family and homeschooling, each March 1st the homeschooling community celebrates 'Heartschooling Day'. Missey passed away on March 1st, 2006 while delivering her 5th precious baby. You can read a beautifully written tribute to Missey here.

Thank you Missey, for sharing your heart with so many of us homeschooling moms and encouraging us to make sure we're taking the time to cultivate our children's hearts as well as their minds.

Molly's Money Saving Digest - My Review

I have had several people tell me over the years that I should be a salesperson because I'm so convincing when I talk about something I love. I don't know how convincing I am, and I can promise you I will never go into sales (you never know what kind of financial situation people are in and I'll never push people into parting with their money for something they may not really want or need), but when I find a product that really works, a product that does exactly what it says it will do or something that goes above and beyond my expectations, then I just HAVE to tell about it! Before I buy anything on-line, and sometimes even before I go to a store to purchase something, I always search for consumer reviews first. I highly depend on the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others before dishing out any of my dear hubby's hard-earned money.

So, all of that to say that I couldn't be happier to have been given the opportunity to review the January 2010 edition of Molly's Money Saving Digest. I first learned about Molly and the Econobusters website a few months ago and was intrigued. I'm all for any help in being frugal and finding ways to be a better steward of all God has blessed me with, be it our finances, my family, my home, or even myself!

The first thing that caught my eye with Molly were the fun, colorful illustrations that the website and digests are made up of. So inviting! But in the January 2010 edtition I found much more than I ever expected could be contained in a monthly publication!

First of all let me start off by saying that I'm no pie-maker. I love the IDEA of baking pies... my home smelling all 1950-ish, and of course I'm in my heels and apron in this fantasy! But alas, I've never made my first pie, from scratch or otherwise. No-bake cheesecake? That I've got covered. But after reading Martha Greene's easy step-by-step instructions on homemade pies I'm feeling an overwhelming urge to get all domesticated and try my hand at making my own pie crusts and filling them with something yummy! My family will wonder what in the world has gotten into me! Speaking of my family, we have been in a bit of a breakfast funk for a while, eating the same things over and over, so I think I'll also try Ms. Green's recipe for fruit-filled turnovers. What a great excuse to eat (mini) pies in the morning!

A large part of January's Money Saving Digest is all about organization, complete with printable forms to help us organize our time, our money, and our stuff! One thing that has made the biggest difference for me as far as organizing and time-saving goes (and helped take a dreaded task and turn it into not so big of a deal) is writing out a weekly menu and making my grocery shopping list straight from that menu. In January's digest Molly has also included a week's worth of meal ideas complete with a printable shopping list so you can just print and go! How much easier could it get?!

One thing I really appreciated, and I believe is a new addition to Molly's digest (although I could be wrong), is her Kid's Corner where she addressed a couple simple financial issues just for kids. It's never too early to start teaching our children how to be financially responsible!

While all of this is really good I have to say her ideas on how to frugally decorate our homes has to be my favorite. I love her suggestions! They couldn't be easier, cheaper, or prettier and I plan on copying her nearly to the T! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so Miss Molly should consdier herself flattered!

Whether it's help with organizing, decorating, menu-planning or one of the many other things Molly covers in January's Money Saving Digest, you'll find lots of good ideas and great advice that make the monthly cost of $4.95 for each digest very much worth it. When your family is treated to yummy made-from-scratch pie for breakfast that $4.95 will quite possibly be the best money you've spent in a while!

Wherefor Art Thou, Dear Blogger?

Hello! Long time, no blogging!

Since I joined the Facebook phenomenon it seems I gave up on blogging. It IS much quicker and easier to say a few words and stay in touch with friends and family there, but I realized that my blog provided a way for me to put to words all the memories I didn't want to forget over the years. There are so many things I would have normally came here and typed up a quick blog entry about that I have now forgotten about and that makes me sad.

So, my goal is to get back to blogging, the one thing that I truly fell in love with and now treasure because it holds memories my feeble mommy-brain has so easily forgotten.

It feels good to be back!

Since It May Snow This Weekend...

I guess it's time to get back to blogging! (You know, since my blog is STILL decorated all snowy and such?)

YAY!!! It's so good to be back! Hopefully lots of updates from throughout the year to come soon.

I miss blogging. I really, really, really do.

But it's all snowy here! How in the world can I blog in this? Sigh... I really don't feel like taking the time to change it. Maybe I'll just pretend it's not here until it really is winter?

Productive Day

(This picture is for my fellow FIAR gals.)

Look! See my microwave? And that crockpot... it has a nice yummy, juicy roast in it just waiting for my Sweetie Pie when he gets home from work, which I will happily and lovingly serve him as he unwinds from a long, hard day!